bone conduction implant

Irene was diagnosed with hearing loss after a viral infection in 2010. After five years with the Baha Intenso sound processor, she upgraded to the Baha 5 Power and is thrilled she did.

Irene works teaching children, which can be a challenging task with a hearing loss. For anyone, trying to get children to speak slowly and clearly — and to be patient with the listener — can be tough. But now that Irene has upgraded to the Baha 5 Power sound processor, she said she can hear the children at her primary school more clearly.

Irene, 31, was diagnosed with hearing loss after a viral infection in 2010. After she got her implant surgery, she was fitted first with the Baha Intenso sound processor. Five years later, she upgraded to the Baha 5 Power and is thrilled she did.

Watch this video to see more of Irene’s story about why she chose to upgrade:

Have you ever wondered what goes on behind the scenes as Cochlear develops the latest hearing tech? If you’re curious about the new Baha SoundArc, Cochlear’s newest non-surgical bone conduction solution, look no further. In the two videos below, the teams behind the SoundArc describe the challenges and successes of this totally new design.

In the first video, listen to Henrik Fyrlund (Senior Project Engineer Technology Development), Stefan Magnander (Senior Mechanical Engineer) and Fredrik Boivie (NPI Project Leader) describe the challenges of designing the SoundArc as well as key moments in its development.

In part two, watch Linnea Agostino (Product Manager) and Jenny Andersson (Clinical Research Audiologist) talk about some of the features that make the SoundArc special when compared to other non-surgical bone conduction solutions.

LEARN MORE:Click here to read more about the Baha SoundArc, ideal for use as a demo device, or for children not yet ready for an implant.

Question: I have cochlear implants and I want to know, could I get the Baha implant? // Elizabeth

Answer: Hi Elizabeth.

The indications for cochlear implants and Baha implants are quite different. If you already have cochlear implants you will most probably have a severe to profound inner-ear hearing loss.

The Baha System is designed for patients with a hearing loss that comes entirely or partly from problems in the middle ear, or single sided deafness. Based on this it is very unlikely that you would benefit from a Baha System.

If you are not satisfied with the benefit you get from your cochlear implants we recommend that you contact your hearing care professional to learn about the options that are available.

42-year old David Grissam from Oklahoma, USA, has been legally deaf since the age of six.

As a dispatcher, he relied on hearing aids to answer phone calls but after a tumour removal in his ear three years ago, the hearing aids no longer worked. Grissam was close to quitting his job.

But, determined not to lose a great co-worker, his office teamed up to help get him a Cochlear bone conduction hearing solution – a small titanium implant behind his ear which connects to Bluetooth via the Baha 5 Sound Processor. Through his phone, he can now connect to the 911 center’s radios and telephones.

Grissam said he can now hear better than ever – and not just phone calls:

Yesterday the winners of the US Graeme Clark and Anders Tjellström scholarships were announced! Named after hearing implant industry pioneers, the annual scholarships recognize Nucleus Implant and Baha System recipients who not only demonstrate exemplary success in their academic pursuits, but also leadership and humanity in their local communities.

“We are proud to recognize these eight exceptional students and reward them with college scholarships,” says Tony Manna, president of Cochlear Americas. “The winners overcame remarkable challenges and achieved so much in their young lives. We are excited to see what the next chapter has in store for this year’s scholarship recipients.”

Natalie Synder (Rochester Institute of Technology) from West Henrietta, New York

Taylor Thompson (Purdue University) from Franklin, Indiana

Willa Tsao (Cornell University) from Wind Lake, Wisconsin

Three students were awarded the 2016 Anders Tjellström Scholarship:

Allison Villa (University of Mississippi) from Oak View, California

Kathleen “McKenna” Nelson (University of North Carolina at Wilmington) from Greenville, North Carolina

Skyler Mason (Arizona State University) from Phoenix, Arizona

“The Cochlear Baha System has allowed me to experience life more fully. I can hear my family and friends laughing, making jokes and sharing some of our favorite memories,” says Kathleen Nelson. “I’m also finally able to fully hear my violin when I play. The first time I played with full hearing was so powerful it moved me to tears.”

Question: I was born deaf and wore two hearing aids for fifty years. Now I have 2 Baha sound processors. They are good , my ears are free at last! What I would like to know is what is the difference between a Baha and a Baha Attract? From what i can see is it magnetic rather than clipping it on.

Also – if the Baha Attract System is better, can I change to that? // Pam

Answer: Dear Pam.

Good to hear that your Baha sound processors work well.

The difference between the Baha Connect and Baha Attract System is the way that the sound processor attaches to the implant. In the Baha Connect System, that you are using, the sound processor snaps on to an abutment. In the Baha Attract System the sound processor is attached to a sound processor magnet. Another magnet is fixed to the implant under the skin and the sound processor is held in place on your head by the two magnets.

The main benefit of the Baha Attract System is that the implants are hidden beneath the skin making the system invisible when the sound processors are not attached.

The benefit of the Baha Connect System is that the direct connection maximises hearing performance.

It is possible to switch between the systems, but that requires another surgery to replace your abutment to the implant magnet, and it may provide you with a slightly different hearing experience (the skin will attenuate the sound slightly). This will of course require a thorough evaluation of the surgery and expected hearing outcome.

Always consult a hearing healthcare specialist who can recommend what hearing solution is best for you.

Snow and winter weather is definitely part of the season, but it can also be harmful to your hearing. Here are some tips to protect both your hearing and hearing devices this winter:

Noise. Did you know that snow blowers can exceed 100 decibels? That’s loud enough to cause permanent damage to your hair cells. A simple solution is to wear a pair of foam earplugs if you’re around any outdoors machinery. If you wear hearing aids, greater danger lies in the fact that a loud noise is further amplified by them. Always use protective earmuffs or noise-reducing headphones that fit over your ears to protect your ears and hearing aids both from the cold and potentially damaging noise levels.

Falling. People with hearing loss are three times more likely to suffer a dangerous fall than those without. And the risk of falling increases even more in the winter time with the onset of snow and ice. If your vestibular or balance system is compromised due to hearing loss, you need to be especially alert for hidden ice patches, snow covered objects and slick steps. One way to minimize the risk is to invest in a pair of grips.

Ear infections. Winter brings a higher risk of ear infection, in both children and adults. One of these reasons is that less blood is circulated in the cold; add that to greater risk of irritation, trapped moisture or bacteria and you have a recipe for a painful condition known as otitis media. You can reduce your risk of ear infections by keeping your ears warm and dry when you are outside in winter weather. Maintaining a healthy diet and exercising to improve blood circulation can also be helpful, especially now when resistance to infection is lower.

Cold and moisture. Wind, rain, cold and freezing temperatures can shorten battery life as well as allowing moisture to build up in your hearing devices. If your Baha sound processors do become wet, an effective solution is to use a dry-aid kit overnight after removing batteries.

Flying. Try not to fly if you are sick. A cold can lead to a blockage in the Eustachian tube, which will prevent the necessary equalization of pressure in the ears. A ruptured eardrum or severe infection can result, which can lead to temporary hearing loss and other problems. If you do fly and happen to experience hearing difficulties post-flight, see a hearing health care professional if your hearing doesn’t return to normal after a few days.

The Baha® Blog is written by the team at Cochlear Bone Anchored Solutions AB (Cochlear)|Opinions expressed in the Twitter feed and in any related comments reflect the personal opinions of the original authors, not those of Cochlear|The Baha® Blog and Cochlear are not responsible for the content or opinions expressed in external sites |In the United States and Canada, the placement of a bone-anchored implant is contraindicated in children below the age of 5|Please note that not all products mentioned are available in all countries